Heuchera plant named ‘Raspberry Chiffon’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Heuchera  plant named ‘Raspberry Chiffon’, characterized by its full, densely foliated and uniformly mounded plant habit; vigorous growth habit; ruffled purple bronze and silver-colored leaves; numerous large light pink-colored flowers arranged on erect panicles; and excellent garden performance.

Botanical designation: Heuchera×hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Raspberry Chiffon’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofHeuchera, botanically known as Heuchera×hybrida and hereinafter referredto by the name ‘Raspberry Chiffon’.

The new Heuchera is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe Inventor in Scottdale, Pa. The objective of the breeding program isto create new vigorous Heuchera cultivars with uniform plant habit, andattractive leaf and flower coloration.

The new Heuchera originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in May, 2000 in Scottdale, Pa. of Heuchera ‘Pearl Pendants’,not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietaryselection of Heuchera identified as code number H99-9B, not patented, asthe male, or pollen, parent. The new Heuchera was discovered andselected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progenyof the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environmentin Scottdale, Pa. in June, 2001.

Asexual reproduction of the new Heuchera by cuttings in a controlledgreenhouse environment in Scottdale, Pa. since October, 2001, has shownthat the unique features of this new Heuchera are stable and reproducedtrue to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new Heuchera has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations inenvironment and cultural practices such as temperature, daylength andlight intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Raspberry Chiffon’. Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish ‘Raspberry Chiffon’ as a newand distinct cultivar of Heuchera:

-   -   1. Full, densely foliated and uniformly mounded plant habit.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Ruffled purple bronze and silver-colored leaves.    -   4. Numerous large light pink-colored flowers arranged on erect        panicles.    -   5. Excellent garden performance.

Plants of the new Heuchera differ from plants of the female parent,‘Pearl Pendants’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Heuchera are more deeply lobed        than leaves of plants of ‘Pearl Pendants’.    -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Heuchera are more ruffled than        leaves of plants of ‘Pearl Pendants’.    -   3. Plants of the new Heuchera and ‘Pearl Pendants’ differ in        leaf color as plants of ‘Pearl Pendants’ have bronze        green-colored leaves.

Plants of the new Heuchera differ from plants of the male parentselection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Heuchera are more deeply lobed        than leaves of plants of the male parent selection.    -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Heuchera are more ruffled than        leaves of plants of the male parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Heuchera and the male parent selection        differ in leaf color as plants of the male parent selection have        grey green-colored leaves.

Plants of the new Heuchera can be compared to plants of the Heuchera‘Harmonic Convergence’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,111. Inside-by-side comparisons conducted in Scottdale, Pa., plants of the newHeuchera differed from plants of ‘Harmonic Convergence’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Heuchera were smaller, more        deeply lobed and more ruffled than leaves of plants of ‘Harmonic        Convergence’.    -   2. Plants of the new Heuchera had shorter and narrower        inflorescences than plants of ‘Harmonic Convergence’.    -   3. Plants of the new Heuchera had larger flowers than plants of        ‘Harmonic Convergence’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Heuchera, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Heuchera.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical plant of ‘Raspberry Chiffon’.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of typical flowersof ‘Raspberry Chiffon’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown in Scottdale, Pa. in one-galloncontainers in a glass-covered greenhouse and under conditions whichclosely approximate commercial Heuchera production. During theproduction of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 15° C. to 26° C.and night temperatures ranged from 5° C. to 15° C. Plants were one yearold when the photographs and the description were taken. In thedescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Heuchera×hybrida ‘Raspberry Chiffon’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Heuchera×hybrida ‘Pearl Pendants’,            not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Heuchera×hybrida identified as code number H99-9B, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 15 days at 23° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 21 days at 17° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 45 days            at 23° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 60 days            at 17° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Appearance.—Herbaceous perennial; basal rosette plant habit            with leaves developing from the base; densely foliated;            full, mounded and uniform plant habit with upright panicles            with white-colored flowers. Vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant size.—Height, soil level to top of foliar plane: About            10 cm. Height, soil level to top of panicles: About 60 cm.            Diameter or spread: About 30 cm.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Basal rosette, simple.        -   Length.—About 9 cm.        -   Width.—About 9.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Rounded cordate; seven-lobed.        -   Apex.—Broadly obtuse, lobed.        -   Base.—Auriculate.        -   Margin.—Crenate with ciliation; ruffled.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Slightly pubescent;            slightly rough.        -   Venation pattern.—Palmate; reticulate.        -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:            Close to 198A; venation, close to 131A underlain with close            to 200A. Developing and fully expanded leaves, lower            surface: Close to 187A; venation, 187A.        -   Petiole.—Length: About 12 cm. Diameter: About 1.8 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth. Color, upper and            lower surfaces: Close to 187B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Appearance/arrangement.—Single campanulate flowers arranged            on loose, narrow and mostly erect panicles; about ten to 15            panicles develop during the flowering season, each panicle            with about 150 to 250 flowers and flower buds. Flowers face            mostly outward to slightly downward. Flowers not fragrant.        -   Time of flowering.—Plants flower from May through August in            Scottdale, Pa.; flowering continuous during this period.        -   Inflorescence longevity.—Individual inflorescences last            about one week on the plant. Flowers persistent.        -   Inflorescence size.—Length: About 40 to 60 cm. Diameter:            About 7 cm.        -   Flower size.—Diameter: About 5 mm. Depth (height): About 9            mm.        -   Flower buds.—Height: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.            Shape: Bulbous. Color: Close to 59C.        -   Sepals.—Quantity/arrangement: Five sepals; radially            symmetrical and fused at base. Calyx length: About 7 mm.            Calyx diameter: About 5 mm. Shape: Elongate. Apex: Obtuse.            Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Pubescent. Color, upper surface: Close to 62D; towards the            apex, shaded with close to 150D. Color, lower surface: Close            to 155D; shaded with close to 59D; glandular hairs, close to            59B; towards the apex, shaded with close to 150D.        -   Petals.—Quantity/arrangement: Five minute petals; radially            symmetrical. Length: About 4 mm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape:            Spatulate. Apex: Acute. Margin: Serrate. Texture, upper            surface: Smooth, glabrous. Texture, lower surface: Glandular            hairs. Color, upper surface: Close to 62D. Color, lower            surface: Close to 62D; glandular hairs, close to 62A.        -   Flower bracts.—Length: About 4 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Shape:            Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Margin: Serrate. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Glandular hairs. Color, upper and lower            surfaces: Close to 187B.        -   Peduncles.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Mostly erect to about            30° from vertical. Length: About 20 cm to 25 cm. Diameter:            About 2 mm. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 187B.        -   Pedicels.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: About 30° from vertical.            Length: About 2 mm. Diameter: About 0.2 mm. Texture:            Pubescent. Color: Close to 187B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: Five per            flower. Anther shape: Oval. Anther size: About 1 mm by            0.6 mm. Anther color: Close to 25B. Amount of pollen:            Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 25B. Gynoecium: Pistil            number: Two per flower. Pistil length: About 6 mm. Stigma            shape: Round. Stigma color: Close to 157A. Style length:            About 5 mm. Style color: Close to 157D. Ovary color: Close            to 157D.        -   Seed.—Size: About 0.6 mm by 0.3 mm. Color: Close to 202A.-   Disease/pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common to    Heuchera has not been observed on plants grown under commercial    conditions.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Heuchera have been observed to    have excellent garden performance. Plants of the new Heuchera have    demonstrated good tolerance to rain, wind, night temperatures as low    as −30° C. and day temperatures as high as 45° C.

1. A new and distinct Heuchera plant named ‘Raspberry Chiffon’ asillustrated and described.